In Response to Questioning by Sen. Murray, Top Watchdog Says It’s Opened 39 Impoundment Investigations
At hearing on FY26 budget requests for GAO, CBO, GPO, Murray asks about Trump impoundment investigations, Republicans’ reconciliation bill
GAO Comptroller General says OMB has not been cooperative
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s questioning***
Washington, D.C. — Today—at a Senate Appropriations Legislative Branch Subcommittee hearing to review the FY26 budget requests for the Government Accountability Office, Congressional Budget Office, and the Government Publishing Office—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, asked Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) about the status of the agency’s work investigating this administration’s impoundment of funding approved by Congress.
[IMPOUNDMENT INVESTIGATIONS]
Senator Murray stated: “You know, from day one, President Trump has unilaterally frozen or contravened critical funding provided in our bipartisan laws. Those actions by Trump and Russ Vought have really wreaked havoc for families and communities across the country. That is really not what the Constitution envisioned. Congress has the power of the purse—period. Our Presidents cannot pick and choose which parts of a law that they can follow.”
She then asked Mr. Dorado, “You have testified that GAO is investigating the Trump Administration’s efforts to block federal funds as potential violations of the Impoundment Control Act. What is the status of those investigations?”
Dorado replied: “We have right now 39 different investigations underway. We’re trying to get the information from the agencies about what their legal position is for not expending the money. I’m looking forward to what I understand to be a submission by the administration as a recission package, which would fall in the Impoundment Control Act, so we’ll look at that. We’re monitoring all the litigation surrounding these areas that we’re investigating in. Only three agencies, so far have given us the information that we need. OMB has not been responsive, nor EPA. A number of other agencies are due to get us information this week or next week. So, I would imagine starting next month after we look to see what is in the recission package.” (Dodaro later clarified in response to a separate question that only two agencies have been responsive.)
“Next month as in May?” Senator Murray inquired.
Dorado responded in part: “Yes. …. They won’t all come at once. They’ll come as we collect and analyze all the information.”
“What options do you have if you don’t get timely, responsive information from the federal agencies?” Senator Murray followed up.
“Well, we’ll have to make decisions on our own based upon the available information. Some of it will be in the lawsuit filings that we’re following right now—and then we’ll have to go forward doing this,” Dorado responded, in part.
[REPUBLICANS RECONCILIATION BILL + MEDICAID CUTS]
Senator Murray then discussed Republicans’ reconciliation package, stating: “Republicans are, as you know, moving full speed ahead with the reconciliation package, promising to deliver more than $5.3 trillion in new tax breaks for billionaires and large corporations. And at the same time, some Republicans have promised that Medicaid – which is a lifeline for our kids and seniors – is safe. But the reality is: Republicans can’t keep both these promises.”
She asked Dr. Phillip Swagel, Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), about how the math works out, “The Republican reconciliation instructions direct $880 billion in cuts within the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP,” said Senator Murray. “You responded to a question from House Ranking Member Brendan Boyle and Frank Pallone in March regarding spending within the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s jurisdiction, excluding Medicare—which Republicans say is off the table. In your response, you said over 10 years, Medicaid outlays will account for 93% of baseline budget projections for Energy and Commerce, is that correct?”
“Yes, that is correct,” said Swagel.
“And if you add in CHIP, is it fair to say you are now talking north of 95%?” Murray followed up.
Swagel confirmed, “That’s right. Once you take out Medicaid and CHIP there is only $381 billion still in the current baseline.”
Senator Murray reiterated: “So looking at table 1 in that March 5th letter, is it fair to say the remainder is nowhere close to that $880 billion?”
“That’s correct in the letter that we sent to Mr. Boyle and Mr. Pallone, the dollars after Medicare, Medicare, and CHIP are much smaller than the instruction.” Swagel responded.
“Okay, so for the record, I just want to say it would appear to me to be impossible for Energy and Commerce – the committee with jurisdiction– to reach the spending cuts required under the Republican reconciliation instructions without cutting Medicaid, or putting Medicare back on the table,” Murray concluded.
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